Wandering Heathens

Breaking Apart

Kakuza walked down the long corridors that separated the wings of the Akatsuki Tower. She passed Pein's room, ignoring the loud moaning coming from it, and continued towards her destination.

Reaching his closed door, she knocked and waited. A muffled "come in" came from inside and she opened the door and stepped into his room. Shinjo was seated at his desk writing a mission report, bent over and focused on his scroll. His eyes flicked towards her but resumed focusing on his report and he ignored her.

Kakuza stood and waited. Her hands clenching at her sides and around her briefcase's handle belied her calm state. "What do you want?" Shinjo finally asked her while rolling up his completed report and placing his seal on it. "I..." she started but was cut off, "Never mind, I don't care" he said brusquely. Her eyes widened in shock at his cold treatment of her but her voice was stilled, her mind trying desperately to come up with something to say.

Shinjo stood and walked towards her, scroll in hand. He paused by her side and she inhaled his intoxicating scent. "You can't, remember? Stay away from me until you figure yourself out." With those words hanging in the air, he left his room and Kakuza hung her head, tears spilling from her eyes and hidden by her mask.

I'm doing this to protect you! All I've ever wanted, ever tried to do, was protect you! She mentally wailed but no sound escaped her lips. She bit them, refusing to give into the emotions that were turmoiling in her body. After regaining a semblance of control over herself, she left his room and headed towards her own.

Locking the door, she threw her briefcase against the wall where it crashed to the floor with a loud bang! and the contents spilling out of it. Ryos, most bound but some loose, some bandages and basic medical aid and an old, tattered Bingo Book spread onto the floor. She ripped her mask off, her hair flying wildly around her, and she threw it onto her bed. Her legs collapsed and she fell to the floor and let the tears flow. Sobs wracked her body and she muffled her cries by biting on her fist. After crying for several hours she fell into a restless sleep, her dreams dominated by what had happened all those decades ago.

"You are to infiltrate Orochimari's lair and report back any suspicious activity. More importantly, find out her connection to the Ryōshi that are with the Akatsuki" Gaara ordered the kunoichi in front of her. "Understood" she replied and bowed before leaving the Kage Tower. "Do you think she can do it?" Kankuri asked Gaara, flicking her chakra strings. "She's the best we have. That stupid attack by Kiri decimated our Intelligence Corps and I refuse to let them send a spy. Suna must maintain control of the situation, both the war and the outcomes." Gaara said while looking out the windows that lined one wall and onto the Village she had vowed to protect.

She hadn't wanted to get involved with Kirigakure's dream of a mainland territory but she couldn't refuse Konoha's request for help. A war, the Akatsuki and now the Ryōshi... this is not what I had in mind when I became Kage. But, at the end of all this, Suna will rise and claim her rightful status amongst the Nations!

The kunoichi scouted the terrain. It had been a long and hard journey, fraught with danger from creatures and shinobi, but she had managed to find the snake woman's hideout.

Approaching silently and well hidden, she reached the entrance. Before she could reach its seal, a voice spoke: "I was wondering when you would return to me." Orochimari chuckled softly as she slid down from her hiding spot above the entrance. The kunoichi bowed, "I'm sorry my Lady. Suna required a longer deception than is normal but they suspect nothing. Gaara is too caught up in the war and especially the Ryōshi." Orochimari smiled wickedly and unsealed the entrance, "perfect. Send them bland reports and in the meantime, I will tell you what is hidden in preparation for its reveal. Come, we have work to do" she commanded as her slim figure disappeared into the blackness. Nodding, the kunoichi followed.

He tried to still his mind. He willed the images behind his eyelids to slow and finally stop. He reached deep into himself and found his chakras. Concentrating, he willed them to bind together and flow as one. "AGH!" Shinjo screamed as his chakras exploded apart from each other and he was thrown onto his back. Gasping and coughing, he tried to sit up but the pain stopped him. He laid back down and looked at the ceiling. Cement, just like at the training facility. Grey, cold, unfeeling. Almost like how I've become.

A figure stood over him and he recognized the mop of red hair. "Whatcha doing?" Ryuu asked, puzzlement in his tone. "Admiring the construction of this room" Shinjo replied sarcastically. Ryuu looked around the room and at the ceiling, "there's nothing special about it" he said. Getting to his feet, Shinjo sighed in irritation and berated Ryuu for being stupid. "I'm just going to ignore what you've said and decide you're either sexually frustrated or experiencing your monthly soooo...talk to me when you're done being an asshole" he snapped at Shinjo and left the room.

"FUCK!" Shinjo yelled, "I'M SICK OF THIS SHIT! I'M SICK OF EVERYONE KNOWING SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD KNOW! I'm sick of not knowing who I am!" He finished and left, his words echoing around the now empty room.

"Interesting" "We should tell Obita" "And watch it all burn" Zetsuki said as she watched Shinjo leave and disappeared into the floor, re-emerging in Obita's room. "Yes?" The Uchiha asked as Zetsuki materialized. "They're falling apart" "Shinjo is alienating everyone around him" "Both will soon be ready to corrupt" A slow smile spread across Obita's lips, "Then Madara's plan is already working. We separate and destroy them and the will Akatsuki falls, leaving us free to do as we wish. Konoha's days are numbered." Zetsuki nodded and disappeared again, to watch and listen for more information.

Outside the door, Itachi frowned. So she is working against us and Konoha is her target. I need to get word to Kakashi so she can tighten the protection around Sasuka and Naruta. If either falls into her hands... She didn't want to think of her sister in Obita's clutches. Itachi knew the madwoman would stop at nothing in her quest for power.